diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 791de19..610834d 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ Now behavior:
 - Now is session-local UI state and is not persisted to SQLite.
 - Reopening the app should start with no Now task selected.
 - When Now is active, the Now TODO title is emphasized and other incomplete TODO titles are dimmed.
-- Setting Now resets the Pomodoro timer to `25:00` and starts focus.
+- Setting Now resets the Pomodoro timer to the configured focus duration and starts focus when the timer is idle or paused.
+- Setting Now while the Pomodoro timer is already running only updates Now and does not reset the remaining time.
 - Unsetting Now does not stop the Pomodoro timer.
 - Completing the Now task clears Now but does not stop the Pomodoro timer.
 
diff --git a/src/lib/components/PomodoroSection.svelte b/src/lib/components/PomodoroSection.svelte
index 7702b74..56e4306 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/PomodoroSection.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/PomodoroSection.svelte
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     pomodoroStatus,
     resetPomodoro,
     setPomodoroDuration,
-    startFocusPomodoro,
+    startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning,
     tickPomodoro,
     togglePomodoro,
     type PomodoroState,
@@ -147,7 +147,16 @@
   }
 
   function startFocusTimer() {
-    pomodoroState = startFocusPomodoro(focusDurationSeconds);
+    const nextState = startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning(
+      pomodoroState,
+      focusDurationSeconds,
+    );
+
+    if (nextState === pomodoroState) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    pomodoroState = nextState;
     syncInterval();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.test.ts b/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.test.ts
index 1dac9a0..fa38fe7 100644
--- a/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   resetPomodoro,
   setPomodoroDuration,
   startFocusPomodoro,
+  startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning,
   tickPomodoro,
   togglePomodoro,
 } from "$lib/pomodoro/timer";
@@ -38,6 +39,30 @@ describe("pomodoro timer state", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("does not restart focus when the timer is already running", () => {
+    const state = {
+      remainingSeconds: 10 * 60,
+      durationSeconds: FOCUS_DURATION_SECONDS,
+      running: true,
+    };
+
+    expect(startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning(state)).toBe(state);
+  });
+
+  it("starts focus from the full duration when the timer is not running", () => {
+    expect(
+      startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning({
+        remainingSeconds: 10 * 60,
+        durationSeconds: FOCUS_DURATION_SECONDS,
+        running: false,
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      remainingSeconds: FOCUS_DURATION_SECONDS,
+      durationSeconds: FOCUS_DURATION_SECONDS,
+      running: true,
+    });
+  });
+
   it("uses custom focus durations", () => {
     const durationSeconds = 10 * 60;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.ts b/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.ts
index 7b4735f..82492c5 100644
--- a/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pomodoro/timer.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,17 @@ export function startFocusPomodoro(
   };
 }
 
+export function startFocusPomodoroUnlessRunning(
+  state: PomodoroState,
+  durationSeconds = FOCUS_DURATION_SECONDS,
+): PomodoroState {
+  if (state.running) {
+    return state;
+  }
+
+  return startFocusPomodoro(durationSeconds);
+}
+
 export function setPomodoroDuration(
   state: PomodoroState,
   durationSeconds: number,